“President Kennedy Is Assassinated” – Nation Goes Into Mourning – This reprinted article was published in the November 29, 1963 issue of Blanco County News. The author was not mentioned.

Monday, the day of the President’s funeral, was proclaimed a day of mourning for the whole nation by the incoming president, Lyndon B. Johnson. Dignitaries from all over the world converged on Washington Sunday and Monday to attend the services in a manner which has never been seen in this country and probably never before in the world.

Much has been said in the past few days about the nature of the man, John F. Kennedy, by persons more articulate and more skilled in editorial analysis than the writers on this newspaper. That he was courageous, highly intelligent, and energetic, is conceded by all. This youngest president of the United States, his wife, Jacqueline, and their two small children, had an especially glamorous appeal to the younger generation as well as older people.

Since our paper is not often in the habit of commenting on national events, and we are fairly sure that there is not one of our readers who has not followed these events closely in the four sorrowful days, which was termed by a local minister as the “nation’s darkest hour in our lifetime”, most of our comments will concern how it affected us locally.

In a less sorrowful climate, Blanco County would have been jubilant that their most illustrious citizen, Lyndon b. Johnson, had been elevated to the presidency. But, that he had to succeed to the presidency in the sad hour, aboard the plane that took President Kennedy’s body back to Washington, left no place for celebration.

Indeed, plans had been made for President and Mrs. Kennedy to spend the night at the LBJ Ranch near Johnson City following the dinner planned in Austin for Friday night.

Locally the citizens acceded to the proclamation issued by President Johnson for a day of mourning on Monday by closing all schools and business places at least until after the funeral was over. Churches had special prayer services on Sunday and some remained open Monday for individual prayers.

Through the medium of television, we were all able to feel more graphically the impact of the events during the week end. We were able to attend the funeral of the president in spirit which would have been impossible in a former generation.

The emotional reaction in this community as well as over the nation, and many parts of the world, has been the shocked realization that such an event should occur in this proud nation where government by the people is practiced in the most advanced state. Not in one hundred years when President Lincoln was assassinated, has this nation been so rocked.

Blanco County citizens feel no cause for alarm concerning the future, however, since we know that a capable Blanco County man is at the helm. We think there could be no more capable president anywhere than Lyndon Baines Johnson. Pres. Johnson, in his first statement after his inauguration, said, “I will do my best. That is all I can do. I ask your help-and God’s.” Blanco citizens join in the rest of the nation in saying, “You have our help and prayers and our confidence. We know you can do it.”

Governor John Connally was also injured in the same shooting. The shots which hit the President in the head and went through the Governor’s chest broke ribs, pierced his wrist and lodged in his thigh. The shots were fired from a 6th floor window of the Texas School book Depository in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald of Fort Worth was arrested and accused of murder and attempted murder and shortly thereafter was murdered himself in full view of television cameras. Jack Ruby, night club operator in Dallas, was charged with Oswald’s murder.

November 23, 1973

The C&C Food Mart changed owners. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cooley sold the food market to Mr. Hilton Lewis. • A catfish dinner was held to honor the Blanco volunteer firemen. The annual event had been put on for many years by Mr. and Mrs. Alec Nowotny and Mrs. Chas. Whitworth. • A yearly subscription to the Blanco County News was $3.00 in Blanco, Comal. Gillespie, Hays and Kendall counties and $4.00 elsewhere. • The Blanco Theatre was showing Walt Disney’s “One Little Indian.” Adults got in for $1.50 and kids’ admission was 75 cents.

November 25, 1983

The City of Johnson City filed for the declaratory judgement in district court in Austin seeking judicial confirmation of its right to obtain financing for construction of the Texlan power project. • High schoolers Tracy Sanders, Wesley Elrod, Jasse Calzoncit and Milton Grenwelge cheered on the BHS “powderpuff” football game. The Senior-Freshmen team beat the Junior-Sophomore team 6-0. • The Blanco J.V. and Jr. High football teams went undefeated in the 1983 season. • For the first time ever, the Jr. High Band elected officers. These officers had the same duties as their High School Band officer counterparts.

November 24, 1993

Vicki Johnson won $2500 off of a “Texas Hot Cash” scratch-off lottery ticket. CJ’s Food Plaza sold the winning ticket. • The Blanco County 4-H Food Show showcased the food preparation skills and nutrition knowledge of twenty-three 4-H members from four 4-H clubs in the county. Based on an interview by a team of judges and tasting of each and every dish, winners were chosen in the four food categories and three age divisions. Categories included Main Dish, Fruits and Vegetables, Breads and Cereals, Nutritions Snacks and Desserts, and Beef Dish.

November 26, 2003

A custom-built 2003 Ford 550 four-wheel drive fire truck arrived at the Blanco Volunteer Fire Department. The brush truck was acquired through a cost-share grant awarded to them by the Texas Forest Service and cost almost $65,000. The remainder of the truck’s cost not covered by the $54,000 grant was paid through taxes.

Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of Blanco County News. Comments are moderated and will not appear immediately.